【英文原著类】The Description of Wales(威尔士记).pdf

The Description of Wales
The Description of Wales
By Giraldus Cambrensis
1
The Description of Wales
FIRST PREFACE to Stephen Langton, Archbishop
of Canterbury
I, who, at the expense of three years' labour, arranged, a short time ago,
in three parts, the Topography of Ireland, with a description of its natural
curiosities, and who afterwards, by two years' study, completed in two
parts the Vaticinal History of its Conquest; and who, by publishing the
Itinerary of the Holy Man (Baldwin) through Cambria, prevented his
laborious mission from perishing in obscurity, do now propose, in the
present little work, to give some account of this my native country, and to
describe the genius of its inhabitants, so entirely distinct from that of other
nations. And this production of my industry I have determined to
dedicate to you, illustrious Stephen, archbishop of Canterbury, as I before
ascribed to you my Itinerary; considering you as a man no less
distinguished by your piety, than conspicuous for your learning; though so
humble an offering may possibly be unworthy the acceptance of a
personage who, from his eminence, deserves to be presented with works
of the greatest merit.
Some, indeed, object to this my undertaking, and, apparently from
motives of affection, compare me to a painter, who, rich in colours, and
like another Zeuxis, eminent in his art, is endeavouring with all his skill
and industry to give celebrity to a cottage, or to some other contemptible
object, whilst the world is anxiously expecting from his hand a temple or a
palace. Thus they wonder that I, amidst the many great and striking
subjects which the world presents, should choose to describe and to adorn,
with all the graces position, such remote corners of the earth as
Ireland and Wales.
Others again, reproaching me with greater severity, say, that the gifts
which have been bestowed upon me from above, ought not to be wasted
upon these insignificant objects, nor lavis